Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Greenhouse Camel Cricket

This cricket was wandering in Highland Park's environmental center last night. Its humpbacked appearance, large hind legs, and oversized antennae suggest that this is a camel cricket, one of a family of Orthopterans that live in cellars, caves, and other dark and damp places. The most likely species is Greenhouse Camel Cricket (Diestrammena asynamora), a species native to China. (It has spread worldwide since it can easily hide in luggage or shipping containers.) The species is recognized by the dark projecting bumps between the antennae.